
Class _£^__ 

Book ^ili-^. 

foWightN" 



CDEURIGRT DEPOSIT. 



Slmrnln'fi iCuBt Mmj 




Lincoln in 1865 



From a i/Iaas negative made by Ale.mmhr Gardner at Washing- 
ton. April 9, 1865, aix dags before Lincoln's death. An enlarge- 
ment of this phologra/)h hangs in the White House. It was re- 
(jardid bg mang authorities as the best e.risting likeness of Lincoln 
at thai time. The plate is ozcned bi/ Robert Bruce of Oneida. 
N. Y. 



Slmroln Slaat Sag 



by 
John W. Starr, Jr. 



Author of "Lincoln as President," "What was 
Abraham Lincoln's Religion?" etc. 




With Eight Black-and-white 
Illustrations from Photographs 



New York 

Frederick A. Stokes Company 

Publishers 



^45- -I 

51^ 



Copyright, 1922, by 
Frederick A. Stokes Compaky 



All Rights Reserved 



Printed in the United States of America 



SEP 25*22 



©aA6bl941 



ut I 



Page 
Lincoln's Last Day 1 

^ Notes 73 

4 

r- 

^ Correction of Some Commonly Accepted 

^ Stories 81 

^ A Bibliography of Authorities with Ab- 

i BREVIATIONS USED IN NoTES 91 



iCtat of JU«0trutt0itH 

Lincoln in 1865 Frontispiece 

From a glass negative made by Alex- 
ander Gardner at Washington, April 9, 
1865, six days before Lincoln's death. 
The plate is owned by Robert Bruce of 
Oneida, N. Y. An enlargement of this 
photograph hangs in the White House 
and it was regarded by many authorities 
as the best existing likeness of Lincoln 

at that time. 

Facing 
page 

Lincoln in 1858 6 

From a photograph taken probably 
by Alexander Hesler, in Chicago, in 1858. 
It is used by courtesy of Frederick Hill 
Meserve of New York and is No. 8 in his 
collection of Lincoln photographs. This 
is one of the best of the early photo- 
graphs showing Lincoln without a beard. 

Lincoln in 1863 22 

From a photograph by Alexander 
Gardner taken in Washington on Novem- 
ber 8, 1863. Used by courtesy of Mr. 
Meserve. No. 58 in his collection, and 
considered by him to be one of the 
best portraits showing the full figure. 



Facing 
page 

The Carpenter Portrait of Lincoln 30 

From the portrait painted by the late 
Frank B. Carpenter at the White House 
in 186'i. The circumstances of its paint- 
ing are described in Mr. Carpenter's book, 
"Six Months at the White House, The 
Story of a Picture," published in 1866. 
The original portrait now hangs in the 
Union League Club, New York City. The 
line across the left side of the face is a 
crack in the orimnal canvas. 



Lincoln in 1864 38 

The famous profile, one of Lincoln's 
best-known photographs, taken by M. 
B. Brady at Washington in 1864. It is 
from Mr. Meserve's collection (No. 81) 
and is used through his courtesy. 



Lincoln in 1864 46 

From an enlargement of the original 
negative by M. B. Brady. Taken at 
Washington in 1864. It is owned by 
Mr. Meserve and is No. 68 in his collec- 
tion. He regards it as one of the finest of 
the portraits. 



Facing 
page 
A Steel Engraving of Lincoln 5^ 

From a steel engraving used as the 
frontispiece to "Reminiscences of Abra- 
ham Lincoln by Distinguished Men of His 
Time/' edited by Allen T. Rice and pub- 
lished in 1886 by the North American 
Publishing Company, 



The St. Gaudens Statue of Lincoln 62 

From a photograph of the statue in Lin- 
coln Park, Chicago, made by Augutus St. 
Gaudens and unveiled in 1887. 



Siurnltt^a EaHt 3ag 



Stnroltt fl Saat Sag 

April the fourteenth, 1865, was a day 
of general thanksgiving throughout the 
northern states of the Union. After four 
years of fratricidal strife. General Lee 
had surrendered, and the early capitulation 
of Johnston's amiy was looked for. 

The President had selected this date 
also, as heing especially fitting on which 
to have the re-raising of the Flag over 
Fort Sumter. It would then have been 
exactly four years since it had been low- 
ered there. General Robert Anderson, 
commandant of the Fort at the time of 
surrender, had been selected as the one 
who should hoist the identical flag lowered 

[ 1] 



Iltttrnltt'jS ffiast Sag 



by him in 1861, when the opening guns of 
the war of the rebellion were fired. 

It was also Good Friday on the church 
calendar, and as such was observed by a 
certain portion of the people in fasting 
and religious meditation. 

The city of Washington, i)articularly, 
seemed to catch the sx)irit then pervading 
the North, and, as one writer puts it, "was 
in gala attire." 

Meanwhile, that morning. President 
Lincoln had arisen at the usual hour, 
about seven o'clock, and wended his way 
to his office to transact some business 
before breakfast, as was his custom. His 
bedroom and office were on the second floor 
of the White House, both fronting on the 
south, and but a few doors apart. Seated 
at his desk he was looking directly south — 
there was the Potomac river yonder, and 
beyond it, Arlington Heights. 
[ 2] 



ICittrnln'fi East Bag 



He despatched a note to Assistant Sec- 
retary of State Frederick W. Seward, 
then acting as Secretary, instructing him 
to call a Cabinet meeting for 11 o'clock 
that morning, and informing him that 
General Grant would be present.^ Then, 
in order to insure the General's attend- 
ance ux^on the meeting at that time, he 
sent him a brief note requesting him 
to call at the White House at 11 a.m. 
instead of at 9, as had been previously 
agreed upon.^ General Grant had arrived 
in Washington the preceding day, and 
was staying at Willard's Hotel. 

It must have been at this time, also, that 
he received and replied to a communica- 
tion from General James Van Alen of 
New York City, requesting him not 
again to expose his life unnecessarily as 
he had done at Richmond a short time 
before, for the sake of his friends, and the 
[3] 



2Itttr0ln*fl ffiaHt Bag 



nation at large. In his reply the Presi- 
dent said: "I intend to adopt the advice 
of my friends, and use due precaution/' 
and thanked the General for the assurance 
given that he would be supported by the 
conservative men of the nation in his 
efforts to restore the Union.^ 

He then proceeded to breakfast/ where 
he found Mrs. Lincoln and Tad awaiting 
him. As they sat there chatting, Captain 
Robert Lincoln, the President's eldest 
son, stepped in upon them. The Captain, 
who had been at the front for the last two 
months, on the staff of General Grant, 
had just arrived in the city that morning. 
He was warmly greeted by the rest of the 
family, and joined them in their morning 
meal. 

With him his father conversed for 
nearly an hour, the President being par- 
ticularly anxious to get all of the details 
[4] 



SIt«roIn*s East Sag 



of the closing scenes of the campaign, and 
listening attentively to the description of 
the surrender at Appomattox, as related 
by Robert. Little Tad was also an eager 
listener. - 

Robert had brought along a portrait of 
General Lee and handed it to his father.^ 
In the words of one who witnessed the inci- 
dent, "the President took the picture, laid 
it on the table before him, scanned the face 
thoughtfully," and then said, with deep 
feeling: 

"It is a good face; it is the face of a 
noble, brave man. I am glad that the war 
is over at last." 

"Well, my son," he continued, looking 
up at Robert, "you have returned safely 
from the front. The war is now closed, 
and we soon will live in peace with the 
brave men that have been fighting against 
us. I trust that the era of good feeling 
[5] 



2Itnr0ln*j0i Hast Sag 



has returned, and that henceforth we shall 
live in peace. 

"Now, listen to me, Robert: you must 
lay aside your uniform, and return to col- 
lege. I wish you to read law for three 
years, and at the end of that time I hope 
that we will be able to tell whether you 
will make a lawyer or not." 

And the narrator continues, "His face 
was more cheerful than I had seen it for a 
long while, and he seemed to be in a gen- 
erous, forgiving mood." 

Yet he seemed to have a presentiment 
that something of importance had taken 
place or was about to transpire, for he 
narrated a dream he had had the night 
before which he was later to mention to 
his cabinet.^ 

As they sat there talking, the President 
was informed that Schuyler Colfax, then 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
[6] 




l-IN'COI,N IX ISoH 



FrODi a phntoyrajtlt hikcn pfobabhi by .llcvander Ile.sler, In 
Chicago, in iHoS. It is used by courtesy of Frederick Hill 
Meserve of New York and is No. 8 in his collection of Lincoln 
jiholoyraiths. This is one of the best of I he early photographs 
shozving Lincoln without a heard. 



jCtitrnltt'B Slast Bag 



was in the White House, and he sent him 
word that he would see him immediately 
in the reception roomJ 

It was the Speaker's intention to take 
an extended trip to California and the 
mining regions of the West, and he had 
called that morning to find out whether 
the President intended to call an extra 
session of Congress that summer. 

Lincoln assured him that he did not. 

They had a long and interesting con- 
ference together. The President spoke 
quite freely as to his future policy regard- 
ing the rebellion, which he intended to sub- 
mit to his Cabinet that day. He also gave 
the Speaker the following verbal message, 
which he desired him to convey to the 
miners in the West : ^ 

"Mr. Colfax, I want you to take a mes- 
sage from me to the miners whom you 
visit. I have very large ideas of the min- 
[7] 



Etttrritt's Hast Sag 



eral wealth of our nation. I believe it 
practically inexhaustible. It abounds all 
over the western country, from the Rocky 
Mountains to the Pacific, and its devel- 
opment has scarcely commenced. During 
the war, when we were adding a couple 
of millions of dollars every day to our 
national debt, I did not care about encour- 
aging the increase in the volume of our 
precious metals. We had the country to 
save first. But now that the rebellion is 
overthrown, and we know pretty nearly 
the amount of our national debt, the more 
gold and silver we mine, we make the pay- 
ment of that debt so much the easier. 

*'Now," he went on, speaking with more 
emphasis, "I am going to encourage that 
in every possible way. We shall have 
hundreds of thousands of disbanded sol- 
diers, and many have feared that their 
return in such great numbers might 

[8] 



Utttroltt^js East Bag 



paralyze industry, by furnishing sud- 
denly a greater supply of labor than 
there will be demand for. I am going to 
try to attract them to the hidden wealth 
of our mountain ranges, where there is 
room enough for all. 

"Immigration, which even the war has 
not stopped, Avill land upon our shores 
hundreds of thousands more per year from 
overcrowded Europe. I intend to point 
them to the gold and silver that wait for 
them in the West. 

*'Tell the miners for me, that I shall 
promote their interests to the utmost of 
my ability; because their prosperity is the 
prosperity of the nation; and," he added, 
his eye kindling wdth enthusiasm, "we 
shall prove, in a very few years, that we 
are indeed the treasury of the world." 

As he had for some time been thinking 
of settling in California permanently 

[9] 



5Ctttr0ltt'0 ffiast iag 



when his term of office should expire, in 
order to give his two boys better chances 
than he thought any of the older states 
could offer, he told Colfax to bring back 
to him a full report of what he should see 
on his trip. This would help him to decide 
in his mind better, whether to return to 
his old Springfield home, or remove to 
California when he relinquished the 
Presidential office. 

Following this interview. General John 
A. J. Cresswell, of Maryland, was shown 
into the room.^ He had come over that 
morning from Baltimore to see the Presi- 
dent in regard to setting free a Confeder- 
ate prisoner who had been an old college 
mate of his. He brought with him an affi- 
davit vouching for the soundness of 
character and worth of the prisoner. 

As the Marylander entered the recep- 
tion room, Lincoln rose from his chair and 
[ 10 ] 



iCtttroItt*0 East iag 



stepped towards him, extending his hand. 

"Hello, Cresswell. The war is over,'' 
greeted the President, shaking his caller's 
hand w^armly. And without giving him 
time to explain his errand, the chief execu- 
tive entered into a discussion of the theme 
uppermost in his mind, namely, the end 
of the rebellion. 

"Look at that telegram from Sher- 
man," he said, extending it for the Gen- 
eral's perusal. "It has been an awful war, 
Cresswell, an aw^ful war, but it's over," 
he added thankfully. 

Finally, the thought occurring to him 
that the General must have come to see 
him for some particular purpose, he said, 
with a touch of humor: 

"But what are you after? You fellows 
don't come to see me unless you want 
something. It must be something big, or 
you wouldn't be here so early." 

[ 11 ] 



KUtrnltt'a Slafit Bag 



General Cresswell then explained his 
errand and handed Lincoln the affidavit. 

"That's not so hard," responded the 
President, "you did right to put it in writ- 
ing. I don't care to read the statement. 
I know you laiow how to make affidavits. 
But it makes me think of an Illinois story, 
and I'm going to tell it to you. 

"Years ago a lot of young folks, boys 
and girls, out in Illinois, got up a Maying 
party. They took their dinners and went 
down to a place where they had to cross 
the Sangamon river on an old scow. They 
got over all right and had a good picnic. 
When it was time to go back they were 
hilarious at finding that the scow had got 
untied and floated do^n the stream. 
After a while the thing looked more 
serious, for there was no boat and they 
couldn't throw out a pontoon. Then the 
girls became scared. Pretty soon a young 
[12] 



iCtttrcItt'a 2Iafit Bag 



man, a little brighter than the rest, pro- 
posed that each fellow take off his shoes 
and stockings and pick up the girl he liked 
best and carry her over. It was a great 
scheme, and it worked all right until all 
had gotten over but a little, short young 
man, and a very tall, dignified old maid. 
Then there was trouble for one young 
man in dead earnest. 

*'Now, do you see," he continued, "you 
fellows will get one man after another out 
of the business until Jefferson Davis and 
I will be the only ones left on the island, 
and I*m afraid he'll refuse to let me carry 
him over, and I'm afraid there are some 
people w^ho will make trouble about my 
doing it, if he consents." 

Lincoln's auditor laughed heartily at 
the story and its application. 

**It's no laughing matter; it's more than 
likely to happen," the President w^ent on. 
[13] 



iCtttroItt's SlaHt Sag 



"There are worse men than Jefferson 
Davis, and I wish I could see some way 
by which he and the people would let us 
get him over. However, we will keep 
going on and getting them out of it, one 
at a time." 

Then, taking up the affidavit, he 
endorsed it, and handed it to his visitor 
to take over to the War Department, 
where his wishes would be carried out. 

His old Illinois friend, "Dick" Yates,'" 
who had recently taken his seat in the 
Senate, called, bringing along another 
Illinoisan, Colonel William P. Kellogg, 
Kellogg had been a Presidential elector 
and Federal judge, aside from his military 
service as Colonel of the Seventh Illinois 
Cavalry, and Senator Yates believed him 
to be well adapted for the post of collector 
of the port of New Orleans, which he 
knew to be open. 

[14] 



iCUtroUt'fli Eaat Sag 



*'iMr. President, here is the man you 
want," Yates said, after stating his 
reasons. 

"That's so, he'll do," Lincoln replied. 
Then turning to Colonel Kellogg, "I am 
going to send you to New Orleans to be 
collector of the port — you will have two 
thousand employes under you, all north- 
erners, because, substantially, all southern- 
ers are disfranchised; but I want you to 
make love to those people down there," he 
added, referring to the southerners. 
'. "I want this commission issued now," 
he went on, and took steps to have 
it issued and sent over by the Secretary 
of the Treasury before his callers left the 
White House. 

He then had a short interview with 
Hon. John P. Hale, whom he had recently 
appointed IMinister to Spain.^^ 

When Hale had left, he saw several 
[ 15] 



iCtttroItt'jS ffiaflt Sai| 



Representatives and Senators/^ and then 
left for his regular visit to the War Offices, 
to get the latest news from the front.^^ 
This he was accustomed to do every morn- 
ing and evening, and ofttimes late at 
night, as the only telegraph offices in 
Washington at that time connected with 
the Government were located in the War 
Department. 

His visit that morning must necessarily 
be brief, if he was to get back to the 
Executive Mansion in time for the Cabinet 
meeting. 

While looking over the files, he informed 
Secretary Stanton that General Grant, 
who, with his wife, had intended to accom- 
pany the President's party to the 
theatre that evening, had cancelled that 
engagement. 

Thereupon, the War Secretary, who 
had been instrumental in getting the Gen- 
[ 16] 



Etttrdltt'fi ?CaBt Sag 



eral to stay away, remonstrated with Lin- 
coln about his intention of going to the 
play, but to no avail. 

He then urged the President to have a 
competent guard. 

"Stanton, do you know that Eckert can 
break a poker over his arm?" Lincoln 
asked, referring to the chief of the tele- 
graph offices in the War Department, an 
unusually strong man, and alluding to an 
incident he had witnessed in the offices 
some time before, Avhen Eckert had actu- 
ally broken several cast-iron pokers of a 
rather poor quality over his arm. 

"No, why. do you ask such a question?" 
replied the astonished Secretary. 

"Well, Stanton," said Lincoln, "I have 
seen Eckert break five pokers, one after 
the other, over his arm, and I am thinking 
he would be the kind of man to go with 
me this evening. JNIay I take him?" 

[ 17 ] 



5jmr0ltt*fi ICast Satj 



Stanton replied that he had some 
important work for Eckert that evening 
and so could not let him go. 

"Well, I will ask the Major myself, and 
he can do your work to-morrow," and 
suiting the action to the word, he passed 
into the cipher-room to see the chief. To 
him Lincoln explained his intentions for 
the evening, and said that he wanted him 
to join the party, but that on mentioning 
the fact to Stanton, the Secretary had 
rex)lied that he could not spare him. 

"Now, Major," the President went on, 
"come along. ,You can do Stanton's work 
to-morrow, and Mrs. Lincoln and I want 
you with us." 

Eckert, however, declined the invitation 
on the grounds that the work which was 
to be done, could not be postponed, but 
must be done that evening, although he 
thanked the President for the offer. 
[ 18] 



Utttrnltt'fi Hast Sag 



"yery well/' rex^lied Lincoln, "I shall 
take Major Rathbone along, because 
Stanton insists u]3on having some one to 
protect me ; but I should much rather have 
you, Major, since I know you can break a 
poker over your arm." 

Then, as it was nearing the hour for the 
Cabinet meeting, he returned to the White 
House. 

Meanwhile, that morning, ]Mrs. Lin- 
coln, who usually attended to the arrang- 
ing of the theatre parties for the Presi- 
dent, had sent word to Ford's theatre, 
accepting on behalf of the President and 
General Grant, an invitation from the 
management to attend the comedy to be 
played there that evening, *'Our Ameri- 
can Cousin," played by Laura Keene, and 
engaging a box for the performance.^* 

She had tried to persuade her husband 
not to go, but he j)ersisted, in order, as he 
[ 19] 



JCtttrnltt'a ffiajst Sag 



said, to escape the multitude who would 
otherwise, that evening, press into the 
White House to shake hands with him/^ 

"I must," he said, "have a little rest. 
A large and overjoyed, excited people 
will visit me to-night, if I am here. My 
arms are lame by shaking hands with the 
multitude, and the people will pull me to 
pieces." 

He also told Robert there would be 
room for him in the box, and asked him to 
be of the party. But Robert excused 
himself on the plea that he was tired and 
would prefer to rest.^^ 

Shortly thereafter a note was brought 
from the National, the other leading 
theatre in Washington at that time, 
extending an invitation to President I^in- 
coln and family to see Wallack and 
Davenport in "Aladdin." 

To this offer, Mrs. Lincoln replied 
[20] 



Utttrritt'fl East iag 



that the President was sorry that the invi- 
tation had not been sent earlier, but that 
as he had ah'eady accepted an invitation 
from Ford's, of course, it would be impos- 
sible for him to be present. However, 
Tad and his tutor would be glad to 
accept/^ 

When, later, INIrs. Lincoln found out 
definitely that General Grant and his 
wife would not attend, she sent an invita- 
tion to ]Major Henry R. Rathbone and 
Miss Harris, step-son and daughter, 
respectively, of Senator Ira Harris of 
New York/' 

Promptly at eleven o'clock General 
Grant arrived at the A^Hiite House, and 
he and President Lincoln repaired to the 
President's office, where the Cabinet 
meetings were held/^ 

Secretaries McCulloch, of the Treasury,, 
and Welles, of the Navy, Postmaster- 
[ 21 ] 



ffitttritln'fl SlaHt Sag 



General Dennison and Attorney- General 
Speed were there on time, as was Freder- 
ick W. Seward, acting Secretary of State 
since his father, the Secretary, had been 
injured by a fall from his carriage a short 
time before. 

Congratulations were interchanged 
with the General, who gave a short 
description of the events connected with 
the surrender of Lee. 

"What terms did you make for the com- 
mon soldiers?" the President asked at one 
point. 

"I told them to go back to their homes 
and families, and they would not be 
molested if they did nothing more," Gen- 
eral Grant answered, to which vejAy 
Lincoln's face glowed in approval. 

The President had seated himself by 
the south window, in his study chair, to 
preside over their deliberations. 
[ 22] 




LlNfOLN IN l.S();i 



Fron) a i>hoto(/r((ph bi/ Jh.ratider (lardncr taken in Washington 
on Novcniber .V, lH6.i. Used Juj coiirlrstf of Mr. Mescrve. No. 
oS in his collection, and considen d liif hint lo he on;- of the best 
jtortraits shoxcintj the full pifiirc. 



ffitnrnln B iCast iag 



The question arising as to what dispo- 
sition should be made of the leaders of the 
fallen Confederacy, the Postmaster-Gen- 
eral said that he supposed the President 
would not be sorry to see them escape out 
of the country. 

• *'Well," Lincoln slowly replied, "I 
should not be sorry to have them get out 
of the country, but I should be for follow- 
ing them up pretty closely to make sure 
of their going." 

' On the General remarking that he was 
anxiously awaiting news from Sherman 
and was expecting to hear from him at 
any time, the President said that "news 
would come soon, and come favorably he 
had no doubt, for last night he had had 
his usual dream wliich had preceded nearly 
every important event of the war." 

The Secretary of the Navy then 
inquired the particulars of the remarkable 
[23] 



Kittrnln'ja Uttst iag 



dream, to which Lincoln replied that it 
always occurred in his (the Secretary's) 
department; he seemed in every case, to 
be on a singular, indescribable vessel, 
which floated or drifted with great rapid- 
ity towards an unloiown shore. This 
dream, he added, he had had XDreceding 
the firing on Fort Sumter, and the battles 
of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, 
Stone River, Vicksburg and Wilmington. 

The practical Grant, however, remarked 
that Stone River was no victory, and that 
a few victories like that would have ruined 
the country. 

"However the facts may be," replied 
Lincoln, "the singular dream preceded 
that fight; victory did not always come, 
but the event and results were important. 

"I have no doubt," he added, "that a 
battle has taken jAace or is being fought, 
and Johnston will be beaten, for I had 
[24] 



5itttroItt*fl Slaat iaij 



this strange dream last night. It must 
relate to Sherman; my thoughts are in 
that direction, and I Iviiow of no other very 
important event which is likely just now 
to occur. But," he abruptly broke off 
as Secretary Stanton just then entered 
the room, "let us proceed to business, 
gentlemen." 

Immediately the members settled down 
to a consideration of momentous questions. 

Almost the entire discussion of this, the 
last session over which Abraham Lincoln 
was to preside, was given over to the man- 
ner in which the Govermnent should deal 
with the seceded states. 

*'The President was very hopeful and 
cheerful, and spoke kindly of General Lee 
and other officers of the Confederacy. 
Particularly did his kindly feelings go out 
to the Confederate enlisted men, and he 
clearly showed that he desired to restore a 
[25] 



iCtttrnlti'H Slaat Sag 



satisfactory peace to the South, through 
due regard for her vanquished citizens. 

".Yet, while buoyant, he seemed de- 
pressed at times, notably when referring 
to his dream of the night before." ^° 

After the several members had expressed 
themselves on the question of opening up 
the different southern ports to trade, the 
President appointed a committee consist- 
ing of the Secretaries of Treasury, War 
and Navy to look up the matter carefully 
and settle it in any manner they should 
agree upon. 

Secretary Stanton then brought up the 
subject of reconstructing and preserving 
civil governments in the southern states. 
He had already formulated and drawn up 
a plan setting forth his o^vn views, a copy 
of which he had handed to the President 
the preceding day. 

The President's opinions on this have 
[26] 



|CtttroIn*H iCafit Sag 



been preserved to us by Secretary Welles, 
who entered it in his diary at the time, 
and wrote it out in detail seven years 
later.'' 

"I proposed to bring forward this sub- 
ject/' President Lincoln said, "although 
I have not had time as yet to give much 
attention to the details of the paper which 
the Secretary of War gave me yesterday; 
but it is substantially, in its general scope, 
the plan which we have sometimes talked 
over in Cabinet meetings. We shall prob- 
ably make some modifications, prescribe 
further details ; there are some suggestions 
which I shall wish to make, and I desire 
all of us to bring our minds to the question, 
for no greater or more important one can 
come before us, or any future Cabinet. 

"I think it Providential that this great 
rebellion is crushed just as Congress has 
adjourned, and there are none of the dis- 
[27] 



HUtroIn'a Easit Sag 



turbing elements of that body to hinder 
and embarrass us. If we are wise and dis- 
creet, we will reanimate the states and get 
their governments in successful operation, 
with order prevailing and the Union 
re-established, before Congress comes 
together in December. This, I think, is 
important. We can do better, accomplish 
more without than with them. There are 
men in Congress who, if their motives are 
good, are nevertheless impracticable, and 
who possess feelings of hate and vindictive- 
ness, in which I do not sympathize and can 
not participate. 

"I hope there will be no persecution, no 
bloody work, after the war is over. No 
one need expect me to take any part in 
hanging or killing those men, even the 
worst of them. Frighten them out of the 
country, open the gates, let down the bars, 
[28] 



Utttroln'js Slajst Bag 



scare them off," he continued, throwing 
up his hands as if scaring sheep. 

"Enough lives have been sacrificed. 
We must extinguish our resentments if we 
expect harmony and union. There is too 
much of a desire on the part of some of 
our very good friends to be masters, to 
interfere with and dictate to those states, 
to treat the people not as fellow-citizens; 
there is too little respect for their rights. 

"I do not sympathize in these feelings. 

"Louisiana has framed and presented 
one of the best constitutions that has ever 
been formed. I wish, however, they had 
permitted negroes who have property or 
can read, to vote ; this is a question which 
they must decide for themselves. Yet, 
some, a very few of our friends, are not 
willing to let the people of the states 
determine these questions, but, in violation 
of first and fundamental principles, would 
[ 29 ] 



iCwrcltt*^ Hast S^ 



exercise arbitrary power over 1 them. 
These humanitarians break do^vn all state 
rights and constitutional rights. Had the 
Louisianians inserted the negro in their 
constitution, and had that instrument been 
in all other respects the same, Mr. Sum- 
ner would never have taken exception to 
that constitution. The delegation would 
have been admitted, and also the state. 

"Each House of Congress," he contin- 
ued, ''has the undoubted right to receive or 
reject members; the Executive has no 
control in this matter. But Congress has 
nothing to do with the state governments, 
which the President can recognize, and 
under existing laws treat as other states, 
give them the same mail facilities, collect 
taxes, appoint judges, marshals, collectors, 
etc., subject, of course, to confirmation. 

"There are men," he concluded, "who 
object to these views, but they are not 
[ 30 ] 




Ti 



ARPKNTKR rORTKAIT OF 



Lincoln 



From the portrait painted btf the late Frank B. Car pen! er at 
the White House in IS64. The circuiimtance.'' of its painting are 
(Jesrril)ed in Mr. Carpenter's l)ook. "Si.r Months at the White 
House. The Storif of a Picture." pul)lisli'(l in JS66. The original 
portrait now hangs in the Union League Club. Sue York Citg. 
The line across the left side of the face is a crack in the original 
canvas. 



Utttroltt'fi ICaat Sag 



here, and we must make haste to do our 
duty before^' they ^ come here," (again 
referring to Congress ) . 

Secretary Stanton then read his project 
for establishing a temporary military gov- 
ernment for the states of Virginia and 
North Carolina,. 

Secretary Welles objected to military 
control, and the plan of putting two states 
temporarily under one govermnent, and 
cited his objections. 

*'Your exceptions, some of them at 
least," the" President said, "are well taken. 
Some of them have occurred to me. It 
w^as in that view I had been willing that 
General Weitzel should call the leading 
rebels together, because they were not the 
legal Legislature of Virginia, while the 
Pierpont Legislature was. 

"What would you do with Pierpont 
[31 ] 



Hittroltt'fi EaBt Sag 



and the Virginia Constitution?" he 
continued, turning to Stanton. 

But the War Secretary said tliat he had 
no apprehension from Pierjpont, and that 
the paper which he had submitted was 
merely a rough sketch, subject to 
alteration. 

Postmaster-General Dennison then gave 
his objections to Stanton's plan, and 
was followed by Welles, who again spoke 
on the matter. 

As the meeting was drawing to a close, 
Lincoln directed his War Secretary to 
take the document and draw up two differ- 
ent plans for the two different states, and 
have copies made of each and furnished to 
each member of the Cabinet by the follow- 
ing Tuesday, when they would have their 
next regular meeting. They required 
different treatment, the President said. , 

"We must not," he added, "stultify 
[32] 



iCtttrnln'fi Hast lag 



ourselves as regards Virginia, but we must 
help her. North Carolina is in a different 
condition." 

Then he impressed upon each member 
the importance of deliberating upon and 
carefully considering the sub j cct of recon- 
struction, as that was the great question 
now pending, and that they must all begin 
to act in the interest of jieace. He again 
expressed himself as thankful that Con- 
gress was not then in session to embarrass 
them. 

At the adjournment of the meeting the 
acting Secretary of State remarked that 
the new British Minister, Sir Frederick 
Bruce, had arrived in Washington, and 
asked the President at what time it would 
be convenient for him to receive him. 

Lincoln thought a moment. 

*'To-morrow, at two o'clock," he replied, 
adding with a smile, "Don't forget to send 
[ 33 ] 



?Ctttniln*ja Zw&t iag 



up the speeches beforehand — I would like 
to look them over." 

As the members of the Cabinet filed 
out/^ they all remarked on the fine per- 
sonal appearance of the President, Stan- 
ton observing to Attorney- General Speed, 
as they went downstairs, "Didn't our chief 
look grand to-day?" 

And, writing twenty years afterward, 
this Attorney-General says: "I fondly 
cling to the memory of Mr. Lincoln's per- 
sonal appearance as I saw him that day, 
with cleanly shaven face, well brushed 
clothing, and neatly combed hair and 
whiskers." 

General Grant remained behind for a 
few moments to converse with Lincoln, 
the latter urging him to go along to Ford's 
that evening.^^ But the General remained 
firm in his refusal. He said that as he and 
]Mrs. Grant had made arrangements to go 
[34] 



Sltttrcln'ja ffiast i3tuj 



to Burlington, New Jersey, to see their 
children, it would be a great disappoint- 
ment to his wife to delay the trip. 

The President mentioned how delighted 
the people would be to see the General 
at such a public place, and told him that 
he ought to stay and attend on that 
account. 

Grant, however, never had a taste for 
display of any sort whatever. At this 
point a note was brought in from INIrs. 
Grant, who was desirous of leaving the 
city on the four o'clock train, and was 
getting anxious over the General's con- 
tinued absence. So he decided finally that 
he could not accept the President's invi- 
tation, and, shaking his hand, bade him 
good-bye. This was between one and two 
o'clock in the afternoon. 

After General Grant had left, Presi- 
dent Lincoln found JMajor J. B. Merwin, 
[35] 



?Ctttr0ltt*j0 Haat ittg 



of Connecticut, waiting to see him. The 
Major had called by appointment some 
little time previously, and, finding the 
President engaged, had determined to 
wait, rather than leave the Executive 
Mansion and call later.^"* 

As it was already past luncheon time, 
the President had a lunch brought up to 
them and they dined together.^^ 

Major Merwin was an old friend of 
Lincoln; they had stumped the state of 
Illinois politically together, and the Major 
had often been entrusted with special 
missions to the armies and elsewhere by 
the President. 

On this occasion he had been called to 
the White House for the purpose of car- 
rying a secret proposition to Horace 
Greeley and one or two other leading 
editors of the country, in regard to the 
employment of colored troops in the dig- 
[36] 



Situroln*0 ffiaBt Sag 



ging of a contemplated Panama canal. 
Lincoln at that date realized the impor- 
tance of constructing such a waterway, 
and he was also greatly concerned, no^v 
that the negro troox3S were soon to be dis- 
charged, as to what should be done with 
them. There really did not seem any 
place for them to go, and those who had 
borne arms did not feel like going back to 
the plantations. He discussed the subject 
at some length with Merwin. 

His idea was to interest public opinion 
in the project, which had been first sug- 
gested to him by General Benjamin F. 
Butler, who had also given him much 
information on the subject. He sought to 
have Greeley, especially, favor it in his 
paper, the New York Tribune, on account 
of its influence and wide circulation. He 
informed Merwin that he had spent the 
most of three nights on the document 
[37] 



SImroItt'a Hast Bag 



embodying his views, which was to be 
delivered to the journalists, and instructed 
him that he should go to Philadelphia, see 
some of the editors there, and then go on 
to New York. After Greeley had read 
the plan, he was to tell the President just 
what he thought of it. 

Writing, after a lapse of forty-five 
years, Major Merwin remembered the 
President to have been ''in fine spirits." 

As his visitor arose to leave. President 
Lincoln handed him the papers connected 
with the proposition and gave him his 
final instructions. Then, recalling their 
campaigning together ten years before, 
Lincoln said: 

"Merwin, we have cleared up a colossal 
job. Slavery is abolished. After recon- 
struction, the next great question will be 
the overthrow and suppression of the 
legalized liquor trafiic, and you know my 
[38] 




Lincoln in 1S(U 



The famous profile, one of Lincoln's hcst-knmi'n ithohnfraphs. 
taken bif M. B. Braeiif at Washington in IS64. It is from Mr. 
Meserve's collection (No. SI) and is u.fed through his courtesy. 



?ltttrnln*0 East Sag 



head and my heart, my hand and my x^urse 
will go into this contest for victory. In 
1842, less than a quarter of a century ago, 
I predicted that the day would come when 
there would be neither a slave nor a 
drunkard in the land. I have lived to see 
one prediction fulfilled. I hope to live 
to see the other realized." 

This struck INIerwin as so important a 
statement, that he said : 

"INIr. Lincoln, shall I publish this from 
you?" 

"Yes, publish it as wide as the daylight 
shines," the President replied. 

While President Lincoln was lunching 
with INIerwin, Edward D. Neill, one of his 
private secretaries, had occasion to seek 
him to procure his signature to a paper.^^ 
Hearing that Lincoln was at luncheon, 
the secretary began examining some of the 
papers on the President's table, to see 
[39] 



aitttmlti'fi SlaBt Sag 



whether he could find the desired commis- 
sion. While looking them over, Lincoln 
came into the room, eating an apple, 
having just bade Merwin good-bye. 

Neill commenced to tell him for what 
he was looking, but as he spoke, noticed 
that the President had placed his hand on 
the bell-pull. 

"For whom are you going to ring?" 
asked the secretary. 

"Andrew Johnson," Lincoln responded, 
placing his hand on Neill's coat. 

"Then I will come in again," said the 
secretary, and as he was leaving the room 
the Vice-President had been ushered in 
and Lincoln advanced and took him by the 
hand. 

This interview with Johnson was of 

short duration, and dealt with future 

action towards the South, now that the 

rebellion was practically over. The Vice- 

[ 40 ] 



fCtttrnln'fl Eaal Sag 



President urged harsher and more venge- 
ful measures than Lincoln would agree to. 

After Johnson had left, the • President 
settled do^vn to his afternoon routine 
transaction of business, and recejption of 
callers. 

He signed a pardon for a soldier sen- 
tenced to be shot for desertion, remarking 
as he did so: 

"Well, I think the boy can do us more 
good above ground than under ground." ^^ 

He also approved an application for the 
discharge of a Confederate prisoner, on 
his taking the oath of allegiance.'^ 

"Let it be done," he wrote on the 
recommendation and then signed it. 

A significant comment on Lincoln is 
made by Gen. James Harrison Wilson ^^ 
who says that one of the great secrets of 
Lincoln's strength was that he refused to 
make any important decision unless physi- 
[41 ] 



?CtttroIn*ja Slajal Sag 



cally and mentally at his best, or com- 
paratively so. As a result of this practice, 
while he sometimes deferred matters 
beyond the time when his subordinates 
thought he should have acted on them, he 
safeguarded his action and accomplished 
more in the end. 

Hon. John B. Henderson, then Senator 
from Missouri, called on the President to 
obtain an order from him for the release 
of a Confederate prisoner by the name of 
George Vaughn, from the Senator's home 
state.^^ Some time before this, Vaughn 
had been captured and sentenced to death 
as a spy. Henderson, however, knew all 
the details of the case, and thought that 
the findings of the court had been too 
severe. On two previous orders from 
President Lincoln, retrials had been held, 
but the verdict remained as originally 
given. 

[42] 



Utttroln'ja East Sag 



Nothing daunted, Henderson had then 
determined to try to obtain an uncondi- 
tional j)ardon from the President, and it 
was for this purpose that he sought him 
that afternoon. 

Calling the attention of Lincoln to the 
fact that the war was now practically over, 
he added: 

"Mr. Lincoln, his pardon should be 
granted in the interest of peace and 
conciliation." 

"Senator, I agree with you," replied 
the President, "go to Stanton and tell him 
this man must be released." 

"I have seen Stanton, and he will do 
nothing," protested Henderson. 

"See him again," was the reply, "and 
if he will do nothing, come back to me." 

The Senator then left the White House 
and proceeded to the offices of the War 
Secretary. 

[ 43] 



Etttroln'fi East Bag 



Right in line with this spirit of kindli- 
ness and good feeling is an anecdote hap- 
pening the same afternoon, related by the 
Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, of New York 
City, in a sermon preached two weeks 
later.^^ 

The Governor of Maryland called to 
pay his respects to the President, bringing 
along a friend. They found him very 
cheerful over the state of the country. 

At the close of the interview, one of the 
visitors asked Lincoln for a small favor 
for a friend. 

''Anything, now, to make the people 
happy," responded the President as he 
wrote the necessary order. 

Another caller was Major William H. 
Anderson, on the staff of General Sheri- 
dan.^^ The Major had been sent from the 
front with despatches for the War Depart- 
ment, and had arrived in Washington the 
[ 44 ] 



?Itttrrin*fi Haat Sag 



day before. As was the custom, he had 
been provided with a duplicate set of 
despatches for the President, and when he 
presented himself at the White House 
found the usual large crowd in the main 
reception room on the first floor wait- 
ing for an audience. He showed his 
despatches to the usher on duty, and was 
immediately shown upstairs to the Presi- 
dent's office. As he entered the room, he 
noticed John Hay, one of Lincoln's pri- 
vate secretaries, Secretary Stanton and 
several army officers and civilians. Presi- 
dent Lincoln came quicldy forward and 
took both the Major's hands in his own. 

"God bless you; how are all my boys in 
the field?" he asked, for his heart always 
went out to the men in the ranks who were 
bearing the brunt of the fighting. 

He asked Anderson if he would remain 
in the city over night. 

[ 45 ] 



Ktimte'si Eajst iag 



Anderson replied that he would. 

"Be sure and call here before you 
return," said the President, and that 
terminated the interview. 

A lady who had at one time been a 
servant in the Lincolns' Springfield home, 
gained admittance.^^ Since leaving the 
Lincoln household, she had married, and 
her husband subsequently enlisted in the 
army. She was now in Washington try- 
ing to secure his release from the service. 
Of course, the President remembered her, 
and was glad to see her again. He had 
her presented with a basket of fruit, and 
also directed her to call the next day, when 
he would see that she should obtain a pass 
through the lines, and money to buy 
clothes for herself and children. 

It must have been a very busy after- 
noon for President Lincoln. L. E. Chit- 
Itenden,^^ his Register of the Treasury, 
[ 46 ] 




Li 



I Mi I 



Front nil iiihi r;>tnu nt of tin miiiiiiiil ii<i/<ilixi f"! M. />'. liriilj/. 
Ttikin (it \\'(i.shiii(//(iii in isr,'^. It is ir^cmil l>ii Mr. Misirxu and 
in No. 6H in ///.v rolhrlion. Jli rr, /arils it ns <,ni of th, fint.-t of 
the port rait x. 



Etttrnln B Slajst Sag 



tells us that that afternoon, intending to 
leave Washington, he called at the White 
House to take leave of the President, and 
found so many waiting, and the President 
so occupied with pressing business, that he 
came away without even sending in his 
card. 

However, the callers were finally 
disposed of. 

It was getting rather late in the after- 
noon, but he and INIrs. Lincoln had 
determined to take a drive, and the 
carriage was ordered.^^ 

Before starting, INIrs. Lincoln asked 
him whether any one should accompany 
them. 

"No," was the reply, "I prefer to ride 
by ourselves to-day." 

As the President was coming down the 
stairway ,^^ he noticed a one-armed soldier 
standing below and heard him say: 
[47] 



Utttrixlu j0 iCast Sag 



"I would almost give my other hand if 
I could shake that of Abraham Lincoln." 

This soldier had arrived too late to be 
shown into the President's office, and 
regretted that he should not see him. 

Lincoln walked up and grasped the 
man by his remaining hand. 

*'iYou shall do that and it shall cost you 
nothing, my boy," he said. Lie also asked 
him his name and regiment, and where he 
had lost his arm, spoke pleasantly to him 
for a few moments and called him a brave 
soldier. 

Then leaving him. President Lincoln 
started along the corridor, where he hap- 
pened to notice two ladies standing.^^ 
Going up to them, he shook hands and 
inquired of them their names. One of 
them was Mrs. C. D. Hess, wife of one 
of the managers of the National theatre, 
and the other was her sister. 
[ 48 ] 



iCtttrnln'fl ffiaat ittg 



Recognizing the name of Mrs. Hess, 
the President remarked that he was very 
sorry to have been unable to accept the 
invitation from the managers of the 
National to attend the play there that 
evening. 

Upon the ladies mentioning the fact 
that the Wliite House conservatory was 
their objective that afternoon, the Presi- 
dent escorted them to it. 

Arriving there, he inquired of them 
w^hether they had seen his favorite lemon 
tree, and upon receiving a negative reply, 
pointed it out. 

One of the visitors remarked on the fact 
of the rebellion being crushed, and asked 
Lincoln whether he was not very happy 
over the news. 

*'Yes, madam; for the first time since 
this cruel war began, I can see my way 
clearly." 

[ 49 ] 



Utttrnln's IGast Sag 



And the one who has recorded this inci- 
dent, herself one of these visitors, adds, 
"such a tender look was in his deep-set 
eyes as he uttered these words." 

Then picking a lemon for each of the 
ladies from his favorite tree, and request- 
ing the gardener to gather them some 
flowers, the President left them. 

As he and Mrs. Lincoln entered their 
carriage, he ordered the coachman to drive 
in the direction of the Soldiers' Home, 
where the Lincoln family was accustomed 
to spend the summer months. 

The early afternoon was bright and 
sunshiny, a typical spring day, but 
towards evening the weather became 
rather cold and raw. 

"Mary," said the President as they 

moved along,^^ "we have had a hard time 

of it since we came to Washington, but 

the war is over, and, with God's blessing, 

[50] 



ICtttroln'fi Hafit iag 



we may hope for four years of peace and 
happiness, and then we will go back to 
Illinois, and probably pass the rest of our 
lives in quiet there." 

He then spoke of their old Springfield 
home, recalled his early days there, the lit- 
tle old cottage, his law office and the court 
room. He dwelt on his varied experi- 
ences while riding the circuit, and the 
green bag he used for carrying his law 
papers. 

"We have laid by," he went on, "some 
money, and, during this term we will try 
to save up more, but shall not have 
enough to support us. We will go back to 
Illinois, and I will open a law-office at 
Sx^ringfield or Chicago, and practise law, 
and at least do enough to help give us a 
livelihood." 

However, he continued, he was not 
wholly certain whether it would be best to 
[51 3 



iCtnroln*0 Hast JSag 



fix his residence finally in his old home in 
Springfield, or remove to California, his 
mind reverting to his conversation with 
Colfax in the morning. 

Throughout the whole drive he seemed 
in the best of spirits, and Mrs. Lincoln 
commented on the fact. 

"And well I may feel so, Mary, for I 
consider this day the war has come to a 
close," adding, "we must both be more 
cheerful in the future; between the war 
and the loss of our darling Willie, we have 
been very miserable." ^^ 

As they drove through the suburbs they 
were greeted by the people affectionately 
wherever recognized. 

On their return to the White House, 
late in the afternoon, as the President was 
leaving his carriage, he saw going across 
the lawn towards the Treasury building, 
two of his old Illinois friends, Governor 
[ 52] 



HmroItt'B Slafit Sag 



Richard Oglesby and General Isham N. 
Haynie.^^ These gentlemen had called to 
see Lincoln, and, finding him out, had 
started to leave the grounds. 

''Come back, boys, come back," shouted 
the President, waving his arms. 

Recognizing the voice, the party turned 
and came back, joining Lincoln on the 
portico. 

Telling them to wait a few moments in 
the reception room, the President went 
upstairs to his office to brush the effects 
of his drive from his clothing. 

As he stepped into a small side closet, 
connected with the office, to wash his 
hands, the Assistant Secretary of War, 
Charles A. Dana, entered the room.^^ 
Seeing no one he turned to go, when the 
President, spying him, called out: 

*'Hello, Dana. What is it? What's 



up?' 



[53] 



Utttrnln'fl ffiaat iag 



"Well, sir," was the reply, "here is a 
despatch from the Provost Marshal of 
Portland, who reports that Jacob Thomp- 
son is to be in that town to-night, and 
inquires what orders we have to give." 

"What does Stanton say?" Lincoln 
asked. 

"He says arrest him, but tHat I should 
refer the question to you." 

"Well," answered Lincoln slowly, wip- 
ing his hands, "no; I rather guess not. 
When you have got an elephant by the 
hind leg, and he is trying to run away, 
it's best to let him run." 

'And with this direction Dana returned 
to his chief. 

The President rejoining his visitors, 
they all went up to his office, where a 
pleasant hour was spent together, laugh- 
ing and talking and telling stories. 

During the conversation Lincoln 
[ 54 ] 




A Stkei. Kx(;r.\vi.\(; or Lincoln 



From a steel enyrcwhiy umd as the front'is piece to •Reminis- 
cences of Abraham Lincoln bi/ Distintjuished Men of His Time." 
edited Ini Allen T. Rice and /nihlishcd in .18S6 hif the North 
.1 inerican P)iblishin<; Coinjxtnif. 



mittrnln'H Ilast Sag 



informed his friends that he intended 
going to Ford's that evening, and asked 
them if they would accomx^any him. His 
visitors, however, had made other arrange- 
ments for the evening and so had to 
decline. 

Finally, Lincoln got out a book he had 
but recently secured, the latest work from 
the pen of "Petroleum V. Nasby." He 
was always interested in this particular 
kind of humorous literature as a means of 
relaxation, and on this occasion he read 
four entire chapters of the work to his 
auditors, laughing heartily as something 
would strike him as being especially funny. 

While thus engaged, the President was 
informed several times that the evening 
meal was ready. Each time he promised 
to go, but would continue his reading. 
Finally the doorkeeper called Oglesby 
aside, and explained that as the President 
[55] 



UttirnltfjB Saat i^ 



was going to the theatre that evening, it 
was necessary for him to dine at that time, 
so the visitors departed. 

Lincoln dined alone with his family that 
evening/^ 

Immediately following dinner, Noah 
Brooks, then a newspaper correspondent 
and one of the President's intimate friends, 
called by appointment/^ 

Lincoln informed him that he "had had 
a notion" of sending for him to go to the 
theatre with himself and Mrs. Lincoln 
that evening, but that Mrs. Lincoln had 
already made up a party to take the place 
of General and IMrs. Grant, who had 
somewhat unexpectedly left the city for 
Burlington, New Jersey. 

He also told Brooks that the partj^ had 
been originally planned for the purpose 
of taking the Grants to see "Our Ameri- 
can Cousin" at Ford's theatre, and that 
[56] 



Utttroltt'fi ?CaBt Eag 



when Grant had decided not to stay, he 
"felt inclined to give up the whole thing." 

But, he added, as it had been announced 
in the morning papers that this distin- 
guished party would go to the theatre 
that evening, Mrs, Lincoln had insisted 
that they ought to go, in order that the 
expectant public should not be wholly 
disappointed. 

After the correspondent had taken his 
leave, the President wished to make a hur- 
ried trip to the War Department. So, 
calling the attendant or guard whose duty 
it was to be near the President at such 
times, he started out. This evening his 
attendant happened to be William H. 
Crook, a man but recently living in 
Washington, D. C.*^ 

As they walked along, the guard noticed 
that Lincoln seemed unsually depressed 
and his step slower than usual. As we 
[57] 



%xntdtCjSi ?Ca0t i^ 



know him to have been in quite a different 
mood all day, up to this time, this 
depression, as Colonel Crook says, must 
have been due to one of the sudden changes 
of mood to which President Lincoln was 
ever subject. 

In crossing over to the War building, 
they passed a crowd of drunken men. 

This suggesting a possibility to the 
President, he said: 

*' Crook, do you know, I believe there 
are men who want to take my life?" add- 
ing after a pause, half to himself, "and it 
is possible they will do it." 

"Why do you think so, Mr. President?" 
asked the dismayed guard. 

"Other men have been assassinated," 
was the reply. 

"I hope you are mistaken, Mr. Presi- 
dent," said the guard, unable to say 
anything else. 

[58] 



?Ctttr0ltt*fl 2Ia0t Sag 



After walking a few paces in silence, 
Lincoln spoke in a more ordinary tone: 

*'I have perfect confidence in those 
around me, in every one of you men. I 
know no one could do it and escape alive. 
But if it is to be done, it is impossible to 
prevent it." 

At this point they arrived at the War 
Department, and the President went in 
for a short conference with the Secretary. 

Of course, Stanton had something to 
say about the President's order permitting 
Jacob Thompson to escape.^* 

"By permitting him to escape the pen- 
alties of treason, you sanction it," he said. 

"Well," replied Lincoln, "that puts me 
in mind of a little story. There was an 
Irish soldier last summer who stopped at a 
chemist's, where he saw a soda-fountain. 

" *Misther Doctor,' he said, 'give me, 
please, a glass ov soda-wather — and if ye 
[ 59 ] 



Etttroltt'si Cast Sag 



can put a few drops of whiskey in unbe- 
known to anyone, I'll be obleeged till 
yees/ 

"Now," the President continued, "if 
Jake Thompson is permitted to go away 
unbelmown to anyone, where's the harm? 
Don't have him arrested." 

They both spoke briefly and feelingly of 
the fact that at last the end of bloody 
fratricidal strife was in sight. 

At that moment Stanton realized, as 
never before, his deep affection for the 
President. "As they exchanged con- 
gratulations, Lincoln from his greater 
height, dropped his long arm upon Stan- 
ton's shoulders, and a hearty embrace 
terminated their rejoicings over the close 
of the mighty struggle."*^ 

When the President came out of the 
Secretary's office. Crook noticed that every 
trace of his recent depression was gone. 
[ 60] 



ICtttroItffli East Sag 



On the way back he said that Mrs. Lin- 
cohi and he, with a party, were going to 
the theatre to see "Our American Cousin," 
that evening. 

"It has been advertised that we will be 
there, and I cannot disap]3oint the peo- 
ple," he said. "Otherwise I would not go. 
I do not care to go now." 

For some unaccountable reason, now 
that the time was approaching for his 
attendance upon the performance at 
Ford's, President Lincoln seemed reluc- 
tant to go. Just a short time before he had 
intimated this to his friend Brooks. 
Later, others of his friends were to notice 
this. 

Reaching the Executive Mansion, the 
President climbed the steps, while the 
guard turned towards his residence out on 
"Rodbird's Hill." 

"Good-bye, Crook," Lincoln called, 
[ 61 ] 



Utttroltt'si East St^ 



and entering found Speaker Colfax and 
Hon. George Ashmun, of Massachusetts, 
waiting for him in the Red Room.^^ Ash- 
mun had been chairman of the Republi- 
can National Convention of 1860 which 
had nominated Lincoln for the Presi- 
dency. The Speaker had come to say fare- 
well to the President, as he intended leav- 
ing on his Pacific trip the next morn- 
ing. 

The party proceeded to the library for 
conference. President Lincoln was now 
in the best of spirits. To his auditors he 
spoke of his recent visit to the Confederate 
capital. 

*'Was it not," Ashmun asked, "rather 
imprudent for you to expose yourself in 
Richmond? We were much concerned 
for your safety." 

"I would have been alarmed myself if 
any other person had been President and 
[62] 




/ 

lliiul 



TiiK St. C.-MDINS SrArn: ok 1,inc(.i.n 

.,„ „ ,l,o(o,rarh of the slnlu. in Llnroln I'ork. rinr.njo. 
e Ini Ju(fii.''ius St. (Sou,len.'< nnd nnvt-thd ni /.s>.. 



SItttroItt'ja East Sag 



gone there, but I did not find any danger 
whatever," Lincohi replied. 

Then turning to Sx)eaker Colfax he 
said: 

*' Sumner has the 'gavel' of the Confed- 
erate Congress, which he got at Richmond, 
and intended to give it to the Secretary of 
War, but I insisted he nmst give it to you, 
and you tell him from me to hand it over." 

Ashmun then alluded to the * 'gavel" 
used in the convention of 1860, and added 
that he had preserved it as a valuable 
memento. He then referred to a matter 
of business connected with a cotton claim, 
preferred by a client of his, and said that 
he desired to have a commission appointed 
to examine and decide u^oon the merits of 
the case. 

*'I have done with commissions," Lin- 
coln warmly replied, *'I believe they are 
contrivances to cheat the Government out 
[ 63] 



1Cto0ltt*H 5Ca0t Sag 



of every pound of cotton they can lay 
their hands on." 

Ashmun's face flushed, and he said that 
he hoped the President meant no personal 
imputation. 

Lincoln saw that he had unwittingly 
wounded his friend. 

**You did not understand me, Ashmun," 
he instantly replied, *'I did not mean what 
you inferred. I take it back," adding 
after a moment of silence, "I apologize to 
you, Ashmun." 

Subsequently the President excused 
himself to get his hat and coat, and stepped 
into his office, where a moment later Sena- 
tor Henderson, who had somehow man- 
aged to elude the usher, found him.^^ 

Henderson, after leaving Lincoln that 

afternoon, had sought out Stanton and 

informed him of the President's request 

regarding the case of George Vaughn. 

[ 64 ] 



Stttroln'a Slaat Sag 



But the Secretary became violently angry 
and would not comply with it. 

The Senator noting that President Lin- 
coln was ready for the theatre, quickly 
narrated the results of the meeting. With- 
out a word Lincoln turned to his desk and 
wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper. 

"I think that will have precedence over 
Stanton," he remarked, handing the order 
to Henderson, who thereupon left him. 

Before leaving the office, the President 
picked up a commission lying on his desk, 
reappointing Alvin Saunders Governor of 
the territory of Nebraska.*^ 

Penning the following lines, "rather a 
lengthy commission, bestowing wpon INIr. 
Alvin Saunders the official authority of 
Governor of the Territory of Nebraska," 
below the document, he then signed it, and 
left it on his desk unfolded. 

On his way back to the library the 
[65] 



ffitnrrin'js Eaat iay 



President stopped at Robert's room. 
Thinking that possibly by this time Rob- 
ert was rested up, and had decided to 
go along to the theatre with them, he 
said:'^ 

"We're going to the theatre, Bob, don't 
you want to go?" 

But as the young Captain had not slept 
in bed for nearly two weeks, he told his 
father that if he did not care, he would 
rather stay at home and "turn in early." 

Of course his father, who was always 
an indulgent parent, told him to do as he 
wished, and again started for the library, 
bidding his son a cheery "good-night." 

Re-engaging momentarily in conversa- 
tion with Colfax and Ashmun, the cards of 
Senator William M. Stewart, of Nevada, 
and Judge Niles Searles, of New York, 
were brought in. The Senator knew the 
President very well, and had called to 
[ 66] 



Iitttrrin*ja Slaat Sag 



introduce his friend, the Judge, to the 
chief executive, whom he had never met.^^ 

Lincoln picked up a card and wrote the 
following, which he directed the usher to 
take down to the callers: 

*'I am engaged to go to the theatre with 
Mrs. Lincoln. It is the kind of an 
engagement I never break. Come with 
your friend to-morrow at ten, and I shall 
be glad to see you. A. Lincoln.^" 

As it was then half an hour later than 
the time he had intended to start for the 
theatre, the President prepared to depart, 



although he indeed mentioned something 
about staying a half hour longer. Both of 
his visitors afterwards noted that he 
seemed rather loth to leave the Wliite 
House that evening. 

"You will accompany INIrs. Lincoln and 
me to the theatre, I hope?" he asked of 
Colfax. 

[ 67] 



ffitttrritt*fl 3Ia0t Sag 



But the Speaker pleaded other engage- 
ments, recalling his trip the next morning. 

Ashmun, however, was disappointed 
that the interview had been cut so short, 
and so expressed himself. 

The President then made an engage- 
ment with him for nine o'clock the next 
morning, and in view of the fact that that 
was an hour earlier than the stated time 
for receiving visitors, noted the following 
on a card in order that the statesman 
might have no trouble in being admitted: 

** Allow Mr. Ashmun and friend to come 
in at 9 a.m. to-morrow. A. Lincoln." 

The friend to be admitted was Judge 
C. P. Daly, of New York.'' 

This card the President then handed to 
Ashmun. 

As they left the library, another inter- 
ruption occurred. Two gentlemen who 
desired to go to Richmond importuned the 
[68] 



HmroItt^B EajBt Sag 



President to give them a pass in order to 
get through.^^ Returning, Lincoln picked 
up another card and made this notation 
thereon : 

"No pass is necessary now to authorize 
any one to go to and return from Peters- 
burg & Richmond — People go and return 
just as they did before the war. 

"A. Lincoln." 

Handing this to his callers, the Presi- 
dent again started for his carriage. Mrs. 
Lincoln having joined them a short time 
before, the party went downstairs, Mrs. 
Lincoln taking the arm of Mr. Ashmun, , 
while the President and Speaker walked 
together. 

When they reached the portico, Lincoln 
again referred to the Speaker's trip. 

"Colfax," he said, "don't forget to tell 
the people of the mining regions what 
I 69 ] 



iCtttrnltffi SaBt Sag 



I told you this morning about the 
development when peace comes." 

Then, happening to notice Senator 
Stewart and his friend standing on the 
stone flagging, he walked over and 
extended his hand. The Senator intro- 
duced Judge S carles to him, and the Pres- 
ident, reiterating the statement on his card 
that he would be glad to see them the 
following morning, bade them good-night. 

As he stepped into the carriage, he saw 
his friend, Hon. Isaac 'N. Arnold, then a 
member of Congress, approaching.^^ 
' ''Excuse me now," he remarked, "I am 
going to the theatre. Come and see me in 
the morning." 

He and Mrs. Lincoln seated themselves 

in the carriage. He ordered the driver to 

drive around to the residence of Senator 

Harris, at the corner of Fifteenth and H 

[ 70 ] 



Htnroltt'fi ICaflt Sag 



Streets, for Major Rathbone and INIiss 
Harris, the other members of the party. 

**I will telegraph you, Colfax, at San 
Francisco," called back the President as 
the carriage rolled away. 

What followed is a matter of history. 



T 71 ] 



NotM 



NnteH 

1. Seward. Note to Frederick W. Seward, 

acting Secretary of State: 

*'Please call a Cabinet meeting at eleven 
o'clock to-day. General Grant will be 
with us. 

"A. Lincoln." 

2. WoEKs XI, 94. Note to General U. S. Grant: 

"Lieutenant-General Grant: 

"Please call at 11 a.m. to-day instead 
of 9 as agreed last evening. 

"A. Lincoln." 

3. WoEKs xi, 94; Writings vii, 371. Letter 

to Gen. Van Alen: 
"My Dear Sir: 

"I intend to adopt the advice of my 
friends and use due precaution. ... I 
thank you for the assurance you give 
me that I shall be supported by con- 
servative men like yourself, in the efforts 
I may make to restore the Union, so as 
to make it, to use your language, a Union 
of hearts and hands as well as of states. 
"Yours truly, 

"A. Lincoln.'* 

[75] 



mimiAn'B %nBt Sag 



The fact is self-evident from Lincoln's 
notes to Seward and Grant that they 
must have been written early in the 
morning. The author has chosen this 
also as the time he in all probability 
penned his reply to General Van Alen, 
as later in the day he would hardly 
have had the time to do so. We infer 
from Chittenden, 240-241, and else- 
where, that during the time the President 
was in his office in the afternoon, he was 
so besieged with callers that it would 
have been impossible for him to have 
attended to correspondence. Thayer, 
435, also gives the morning as the time 
this letter was written. 
As, See Tarbell ii, 233; Laughlin, 68-69; 
Arnold, 429, for accounts of breakfast 
period. 

5. Keckley, 137-138. Mrs. Keckley was 

modiste in the White House at this time, 
and present at the incident. 

6. New YorJc American, 

7. Crosby, 374-375. . 

8. Writings vii, 370-371; Oldroyd, 3-4; 

Raymond, 694. 

9. Draper. Related to A. S. Draper by Gen- 

eral Cresswell, 

10. Yates, 11. 

[76] 



3itttroln*£E %wst )Bay 



11. Crosby, 375; Shea, 59; and Morris, 19. 

12. Idem. 

13. See Laughlin, 69-71; and Bates, 366- 

368, for accounts of his morning visit 
to the War Department. Bates was an 
eye-witness. 

14. Moss; Laughlin, 73; Mudge, 303-304; 

Glimpses, 48. 

15. Reed. 

16. Stevens, 72. 

17. Moss. 

18. Laughlin, 74. 

19. For detailed accounts of Cabinet meeting, 

see Seward and Welles. Many others 

have shorter accounts. Both Secretaries 

Seward and Welles being present, render 

their descriptions invaluable. 
i20. Secretary Stanton to General Thomas M. 

Vincent in Benjamin, 84-85. 
21. Welles has recorded these remarks in the 

third person ; the author transposes 

them to the first. 
2S. Attorney-General Speed in Barrett ii, 356. 

23. Porter, 891-892. 

24. For Merwin interview, the author has col- 

lated the accounts of Crispin, 30-31 ; 
White; Hobson, 61; Dunn; National 
Prohibitionist ; Omaha Issue. Also com- 

[77] 



2Itttriiltt*0 Hast Sag 



munications from Major Merwin Janu- 
ary 3, and February 19, 1912. 
S5. Major Merwin to the author, February 19, 
1921. 

26. Neill in Glimpses, 47, 50 ; Beowne, 703- 

704. 

27. Browne, 704-705. 

28. General James Harrison Wilson is the 

oldest general of the Civil War living in 
1922. He communicated this comment 
to Mr. Robert Bruce, a Lincoln student, 
in 1921. 

29. Pratt, 211-212; Success; Williams, 

200-201. 

80. Thompson, 18. 

81. Major Anderson to the author, March 24, 

1921. 

82. Herndon ii, 138. 

33. Chittenden, 240-241. 

84. Arnold, 429-430; Mudge, 802-303; 
Brooks' Life, 455; Carpenter, 293; 
NicoLAY and Hay x, 285-286 ; Coffin, 
514; best accounts of President's drive. 

35. L. E. Chittenden in Tributes, 148, 

36. Moss. 

87, Conversation as recalled by Mrs. Lincoln, 
and related to Hon. Isaac N. Arnold; 
see Arnold, 429-430, 
[78] 



IitnroIti^B EaHt Sag 



38. "The last day lie lived was the happiest 

of his life." Mrs. Lincoln to Rev. Dr. 
Miner. Reed Lecture, 343. 

39. Tarbell ii, 235; Haynie. 

40. Dana in Rice, 375-376; Dana, 67-70. 

41. Communicated to the author by Col. Wil- 

liam H. Crook, personal attendant and 
body-guard of the President in 1865, 
January 24, 1912. 

42. Brooks' Washington, 257-258. 

43. Gerry; Crook; New York World. In the 

communication above referred to, Col. 
Crook stated that it was before dinner 
that he accompanied President Lincoln 
to the War Department, but in this 
respect his memory is evidently at fault. 
The article in the Centura/ Magazine for 
April 1896 (see Haynie) contains ex- 
cerpts from a letter written by General 
Haynie, who, with Governor Oglesby, 
was entertained by Lincoln after his 
drive, and in his account of their call in 
the President's office, mentions that 
"he (Lincoln) read four chapters of 
Petroleum V. Nasby's book (recently 
published) to us, and continued reading 
until he was called to dinner at about 
six o'clock when we left him." This 
letter of General Haynie's was written 
April 14, 1865, shortly after his call, 

[79] 



Utttrnln'H HaHt Bag 



and before the news of the assassination 
reached him, and may be presumed to be 
correct. 

44. Leland, 419. 

45. Stanton to James B. Fry, in Rice, 404. 

46. For the evening interview of Colfax and 

Ashmun, see Coffin, 515; Carpenter, 
285-286 ; Shea, 60-61 ; Browne, 705 ; 
Crosby, 375-377. 

47. Pratt, 213; Success; Williams, 201-202. 

48. McClure, 416. - > / ' ' 

49. Robert T. Lincoln to Miss Laughlin, in 

Laughlin, 76. 

50. Stewart; Philadelphia Public Ledger, 

51. Holland, 518, note. 

52. To the author, ommunication of O. H. 

Oldroyd, September 16, 1920. Capt. 
Oldroyd is custodian of the Lincoln 
Museum in Washington, D. C, in the 
house in which Lincoln died, and has the 
original pass in his possession. 

53. Aenold, 431. 



[80] 



(Bntttttion of &0mp 



(Hawtttxan at Bamt 

In tHe compilation of the foregoing 
article, the author ran across much mat- 
ter of an erroneous nature, which has crept 
into accepted biographies, and other pub- 
lications dealing with Lincoln's last day 
upon earth. 

One of these stories, wliich has probably 
attained wider publicity than any other, 
is the so-called "Last Story," which the 
President is supposed to have related to 
Ward Hill Lamon, i\Iarshal of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, and a warm personal 
friend of Lincoln's. 

We first find this in Carpenter's "Six 
Months at the White House," which 
[83] 



(Bnrt tttxjxn of ffiommottlg ArrgytgH ^torfefl 

appeared in 1866, and it persists to the 
present day. At times it has gone the 
rounds of the press, presumably quoted 
on the authority of Thomas Pendel, who 
was front door-keeper in the White House 
at the time. But in PendeFs "Thirty-six 
Years in the White House," the Neale 
Publishing Company, Washington, D. C, 
1902, we do not find this anecdote, 
although he gives an account of that last 
evening, just previous to the President 
and Mrs. Lincoln leaving for the theatre. 
It is to be found in "The True Abraham 
Lincoln," by William Eleroy Curtis, J. B. 
Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 
1907, pages 310-311. Also in "Anec- 
dotes of Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln's 
Stories," edited by J. B. McClure, 
Rhodes & McClure, Chicago, 111., 
1879, page 182, and his later work, 
"Abraham Lincoln's Stories and 
[84] 



1Sittr0ltt*fl SlaEt Sag 



Speeches," edited by J. B. jMcClurc, 
A.M., Rhodes & McClurc rublishing 
Company, Chicago, 111., 189G, page 279. 
McClure seems to have lifted his account 
bodily from Carpenter. 

The story as given by Carpenter is as 
follows (pages 284-285) ; 

The last story told by Mr. Lincoln was drawn 
out by a circumstance which occurred just 
before the interview with Messrs. Colfax and 
Ashmun, on the evening of the assassination. 

Marshal Lamon, of Washington, had called 
upon him with an application for the pardon 
of a soldier. After a brief hearing the President 
took the application, and when about to write 
his name upon the back of it, he looked up and 
said: "Lamon, have you ever heard how the 
Patagonians eat oysters? They open them 
and throw the shells out of the window until 
the pile gets higher than the house, and then 
they move;" adding: "I feel to-day like com- 
mencing a new pile of pardons, and I may as 
well begin it just here." 

[85] 



(Bnvxtttxxxn nf (Enmmnnlg ^tttpUh BtntxsB 

This is proven false from the fact that 
at this time, INIarshal Lamon was not in 
Washington, but in Richmond, Va., where 
he had gone two days before. In "Recol- 
lections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865," 
by Ward Hill Lamon, edited by Dorothy 
Lamon, A. C. IMcClurg & Co., Chicago, 
111., 1895, on pages 274-275, the following 
excerpt is found: 

When the dreadful tragedy occurred, I was 
out of the city, having gone to Richmond two 
days before on business for Mr. Lincoln con- 
nected with the call of a convention for recon- 
struction, about which there had arisen some 
complications. I have preserved the pass Mr. 
Lincoln gave me to go through to Richmond, of 
which the following is a facsimile : 

"Allow the bearer, W. H. Lamon & friend, 
with ordinary baggage to pass from Washing- 
ton to Richmond and return. 

"A. Lincoln." 

This order as stated appears in fac- 
[86] 



JCtttroIn'fl East Buy 



simile form, and there is no doubt as to its 
authenticity. 

In Francis F. Browne's "E very-Day 
Life," edition of 188G, in speaking of the 
events of that last morning, page 702, he 
says: 

Mr. Lincoln took a short drive with General 
Grant, who had just come to the city to consult 
with him regarding the disbandinent of the 
army and the parole of rebel prisoners. The 
people were wild with enthusiasm, and wherever 
the President and General Grant appeared they 
were greeted with cheers, the clapping of hands, 
waving of handkerchiefs, and every possible 
demonstration of delight. 

This is repeated in his revised edition 
of 1913, published by Bro^Mie & Howell 
Company, Chicago, 111., page 583. 

]Mr. Charles Wallace French in his 
"Abraham Lincoln the Librator. A 
Biographical Sketch," Funk & Wagnalls 
[87] 



(Exxrvtttltin nf (Hxtmmnnlg ^tttpUh &tnrt?fl 

Company, New York, 1891, pages 332- 
333, makes practically the same statement. 

There is no authority for any such 
account. The truth of the matter is that 
General Grant arrived in Washington on 
the morning of the 13th. During the day 
he took a drive through the city with Mrs. 
Lincoln, and was wildly acclaimed wher- 
ever recognized. He took no drive either 
that day or the next with the President. 
These facts we gather from an article on 
"Lincoln and Grant," by General Horace 
Porter in the Century Magazine for Octo- 
ber, 1885. Porter certainly knew, for he 
was on the stalf of General Grant. 

Nicolay and Hay, in their monumental 
work in ten volumes, also make the same 
misstatement as to General Grant arriv- 
ing in Washington the morning of the 
14th, although they make no mention of a 
"drive" (volume ten, page 281). The 
[88] 



iCtnroIn'a Slaat Sag 



date of the arrival of the General as being 
the 13th, is further corroborated by the 
note which President Lincoln sent to hiin 
the morning of the 14th. 



[ 89 ] 



A Stbltngrapltg of Autltorttipa 
tnttl? Ahbrfutaluina useh in Notfa 



A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AUTHORITIES 

WITH ABBREVIATIONS USED 

IN NOTES 

Arnold: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. By 
Isaac N. Arnold. Ninth edition. Chicago: 
A. C. McClurgfi: Co. 1901. 

Barrett: Abraham Lincoln and His Presidency. 
By Joseph H. Barrett, LL.D. Two volumes. 
Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Co. 1904. 

Bates: Lincoln in the Telegraph Office. By 
David Homer Bates. N"ew York: The 
Century Co. 1907. 

Benjamin: Washington During War Time. A 
Series of Papers Showing the Military, Politi- 
cal, and Social Phases During 1861 to 1SG5. 
Collected and edited by Marcus Benjamin. 
Washington, D. C: The National Tribune 
Co. 1902(.?) 

Brooks' Life: Abraham Lincoln and the Down- 
fall of American Slavery. By Noah Brooks. 
New York and London: G. P. Putnam's 
Sons. 1908. 

Brooks' Washington: Washington in Lincoln's 
Time. By Noah Brooks. New Yoik: The 
Century Co. 1896. 

[ 93 ] 



SItttrnltt'a SIttst Sag 



Browne: The Every-Day Life o£ Abraham Lin- 
coln. Prepared and Arranged by Francis F. 
Browne. New York and St. Louis: N. D, 
Thompson Publishing Co. 1886. 

Carpenter: Six Months at the White House with 
Abraham Lincoln. The Story of a Picture. 
By F. B. Carpenter. New York: Hurd & 
Houghton. 1867. 

Chittenden: Personal Reminiscences, 1840-1890. 

Including Some Not Hitherto Published 

Relating to Lincoln and the War. By L. E. 

Chittenden. New York: Richmond, Croscup 

& Co. 1893. 
Coffin: Abraham Lincoln. By Charles Carleton 

Coffin. New York and London: Harper & 

Brothers, 1905. 
Crispin: A New Historical Lecture. Abraham 

Lincoln the First American. By Rev. William 

Frost Crispin, D.D. Akron, Ohio. 1911. 

Crook: The Home Life of Lincoln. Personal 
Recollections of Col. W. H. Crook, Body- 
guard of President Lincoln. Saturday Evening 
Post. June 4, 1910. 

Crosby: Life of Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth 
President of the United States. By Frank 
Crosby. Philadelphia: John E. Potter. 1865. 

Dana: Lincoln and His Cabinet. A Lecture Deliv- 
ered Before the New Haven Colony Histori- 
cal Society, Tuesday, March 10, 1896. By 
Charles Anderson Dana, Assistant Secretary 
of War, 1863-65. Souvenir of the Thirteenth 

[ 94 ] 



]5tbIt0J5rapI|g 



Annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican 
Club of the City of New York. 1899. 

Draper: Lincoln's Parable. By A. S. Draper. 
Harper's Weekly, October 26, 1907. 

Dunn: Canal and Liquor War Both Urged by 
Lincoln. By Arthur Wallace Dunn. The 
Woman's National Daily, St. Louis, Mo., 
May 17, 1909. 

Gerry: Lincoln's Last Day. By William H. 
Crook. Compiled and Written Down by Mar- 
garita S. Gerry. Harper's Monthly, Septem- 
ber 1907. 

Glimpses: Glimpses of the Nation's Struggle. A 
Series of Papers Read Before the Minnesota 
Commandery of the ^lilitary Order of the 
Loyal Legion of the United States. St. Paul, 
Minn.: St. Paul Book and Stationery Co. 
1887. ^'Reminiscences of the Last Year of 
President Lincoln's Life. By Chaplain 
Edward D. Neill, D.D." 

Haynie: At the Death Bed of Lincoln. By 
Edwin C. Haynie. Century Magazine, April 
1896. 

Herndon: Abraham Lincoln. The True Story of 
a Great Life. By William H. Herndon and 
Jesse W. Weik. Two volumes. New York: 
D. Appleton & Co. 190G. 

Hobson: Footprints of Abraham Lincoln. Pre- 
senting Many Interesting Facts, Reminiscen- 
ces and Illustrations Never Before Published. 
By J. T. Hobson, D.D., LL.B. Dayton, 
Ohio: The Otterbein Press. 1909. 



[ 95 ] 



5Ctttr0ltt*si EaHt S^ 



Holland: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. By 
J. G. Holland. Springfield, Mass.: Gurdon 
Bill. 1866. 

Keckley: Behind the Scenes. By Elizabeth 
Keckley, Formerly a Slave, but More 
Recently Modiste, and Friend to Mrs. Abra- 
ham Lincoln. New York: G. W. Carleton 
& Co. 1868. 

Laughlin: The Death of Lincoln. The Story 
of Booth's Plot, His Deed and the Penalty. 
By Clara E. Laughlin. New York: Double- 
day, Page & Co. 1909. 

Leland: Abraham Lincoln. By Charles G. Leland. 
London: Marcus Ward & Co. 1879. 

McClure: *'Abe'* Lincoln's Yarns and Stories. 
With Introduction and Anecdotes by Colonel 
Alexander K. McClure, of the Philadelphia 
Times, a Personal Friend and Adviser of the 
Story Telling President. Copyright by Henry 
Neill. 1901. 

Morris : Memorial Record of the Nation's Tribute 
to Abraham Lincoln. Compiled by B. F. Mor- 
ris. Washington, D. C, W. H. & O. H. 
Morrison. 1865. 

Moss: Lincoln and Wilkes Booth as Seen on the 
Day of the Assassination. By M. Helen 
Palmes Moss. Century Magazine, April 
1909, 

Mudge: The Forest Boy: A Sketch of the Life 
of Abraham Lincoln for Young People. By 
Z. A. Mudge. New York : Carlton & Porter. 
1867. 

[ 96 ] 



HlHtngrapI?^ 



National Prohibitionist: Collier's Ip^orancc. 
Editorial in the National Prohibitionist, 
Chicago, March 25, 1909. 

New York American: Lincoln — Premonition of 
Death in His Dream. Article in New York 
American and Journal, February 7, 1909. 

New York World: Anniversary of Lincoln's 
Assassination, One of the Most Thrilling 
Tragedies in History. Article in New York 
World, April 14, 1901. 

NicoLAY AND Hay: Abraham Lincoln: A History. 
By Jolin G. Nicolay and John Hay. Ten 
volumes. New York: The Century Co. 1904. 

Oldroyd: The Assassination of Abraham Lin- 
coln. Flight, Pursuit, Capture, and Punish- 
ment of the Conspirators. By Osborn H. 
Oldroyd. Washington, D. C: O. H, Oldroyd. 
1901. 

Omaha Issue: Lincoln Did Say It. Editorial in 
Omaha (Neb.) Issue, May 28, 1909. 

Philadelphia Public Ledger: Lincoln's Last 
Autograph. Probably on a Note Sent to Sen- 
ator Stewart, of Nevada. Article from Cin- 
cinnati Enquirer, published in Ledger, Febru- 
ary 1903 (exact date not known). 

Porter: Campaigning with Grant. By Horace 
Porter. Century Magazine, November 1896- 
October 1897. October 1897 issue, "The Sur- 
render at Appomattox and the Close of the 
War." 

Pratt: Lincoln in Story. The Life of the ^fartyr- 
President told in Authenticated Anecdotes. 



[ 97 ] 



JCtttrnln'jS ?CaHt lag 



Edited by Silas G. Pratt. New York: D. 
Appleton & Co. 1903. 

Raymond: The Life and Public Services of Abra- 
ham Lincoln. By Henry J. Eaymond. To 
which, are added Anecdotes and Personal 
Reminiscences of President Lincoln. By 
Frank B. Carpenter. New York: Derby & 
Miller. 1865. 

Reed: The Later Life and Religious Sentiments 
of Abraham Lincoln. A Lecture by Rev. 
J. A. Reed, Scribner's Monthly, July 1873. 

Rice: Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln by 
Distinguished Men of Plis Time. Collected 
and edited by Allen Thorndike Rice. New 
York: The North American Review. 1888. 

Seward: Recollections of Lincoln's Last Hours. 
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[ 09 ] 



iCtttroln'fi iCafit Sag 



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